ORIGINAL PAPER
Impact of strain-counterstrain on treatment of acute nonspecific low back pain: a single-blind randomized controlled trial
1
Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy,
Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
2
Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Applied Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
3
Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
4
Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorder and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy,
Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
5
Physiotherapy Department of Al Wakra Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
Submission date: 2019-09-08
Acceptance date: 2020-02-27
Publication date: 2020-10-20
Hum Mov. 2021;22(1):42-49
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
The study was to assess the effectiveness of strain-counterstrain (SCS) techniques, after treatment and after a 6-week follow-up, on pain, range of motion (ROM), and disability in patients with acute nonspecific low back pain with mobility deficits.
Methods:
SCS techniques (group A) and 42 (group B, control group) were advised to be active. The pressure pain threshold (PPT), lumbar flexion ROM, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used for assessment. All patients were assessed before treatment, after treatment, and after a 6-week follow-up. The treatment program was applied for 2 weeks, 2 sessions per week.
Results:
Statistical analysis revealed that there were significant increases in PPT on both sides of L5 and lumbar flexion ROM. In addition, a significant reduction in ODI scores was observed (p < 0.05) in the pre- vs. post-treatment evaluation, in the pre-treatment vs. post-6-week evaluation, and in the post-treatment vs. post-6-week evaluation with regard to both groups. As for between-group effects, multiple pairwise comparisons revealed significant increases in PPT on both sides of L5 and lumbar flexion ROM, in addition to a significant reduction in ODI scores (p < 0.05) in favour of group A as compared with group B after treatment and after the 6-week follow-up.
Conclusions:
SCS is preferable to be advised in the treatment of acute nonspecific low back pain with mobility deficits.
The study was to assess the effectiveness of strain-counterstrain (SCS) techniques, after treatment and after a 6-week follow-up, on pain, range of motion (ROM), and disability in patients with acute nonspecific low back pain with mobility deficits.
Methods:
SCS techniques (group A) and 42 (group B, control group) were advised to be active. The pressure pain threshold (PPT), lumbar flexion ROM, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used for assessment. All patients were assessed before treatment, after treatment, and after a 6-week follow-up. The treatment program was applied for 2 weeks, 2 sessions per week.
Results:
Statistical analysis revealed that there were significant increases in PPT on both sides of L5 and lumbar flexion ROM. In addition, a significant reduction in ODI scores was observed (p < 0.05) in the pre- vs. post-treatment evaluation, in the pre-treatment vs. post-6-week evaluation, and in the post-treatment vs. post-6-week evaluation with regard to both groups. As for between-group effects, multiple pairwise comparisons revealed significant increases in PPT on both sides of L5 and lumbar flexion ROM, in addition to a significant reduction in ODI scores (p < 0.05) in favour of group A as compared with group B after treatment and after the 6-week follow-up.
Conclusions:
SCS is preferable to be advised in the treatment of acute nonspecific low back pain with mobility deficits.
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